Fine Needle Aspiration (Thyroid, Head, Neck) With Provider Made Slides

Useful For

Detection of malignant, pre malignant and benign processes.

Cytology

Fine Needle Aspiration (Thyroid, Head, Neck); FNA; Lymph Node; Salivary Gland Mass,

Fine Needle Aspirate

Label the CytoLyt preservative container with patient’s full name, date of birth and source of specimen
1. Ensure specific anatomic site wording including laterality if applicable. (i.e. right upper lobe)
2. Specimen can be expressed directly into the Cytolyt preservative container without touching the CytoLyt solution or container.
  1. Once all potential passes to obtain specimen are complete, thoroughly rinse the needle/syringe with the CytoLyt to maximize the cell sample.
    1. NOTE! CYTOLYT IS TOXIC AND NOT STERILE. DO NOT USE NEEDLES RINSED IN CYTOLYT TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL SPECIMEN FROM PATIENT IF NEEDLE IS PLACED INTO THE CYTOLYT SOLUTION!
If provider is providing pull apart slides to the lab
1. Label slides with patient’s full name, DOB and source of the specimen using a pencil
  1. DO NOT USE PEN OR SHARPIE TO LABEL THE SLIDES- THEY WILL WASH OFF IN THE ALCOHOL SOLUTION!
  2. Ensure specific anatomic site wording including laterality if applicable. (i.e. right upper lobe)
2. As pull-apart slides are made, IMMEDIATELY place:
  1. one slide into a slide vial containing 95% alcohol as the alcohol preserved specimen
  2. the second slide is placed into an empty container as the airdried specimen
Ensure all vial caps are tightly secured before transport to the lab. This will prevent leakage of alcohol/specimen.

Though a minimum of 1 adequate pass is required, 3 passes per site is preferred to ensure adequate cellularity for a diagnosis.

Transport at room temperature.

Glens Falls Hospital laboratory, Cytology department.

Cytology testing is performed Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4 pm.